The judge said he does consider Bartee a flight risk. Bartee was required to surrender his passport and can have no contact with the alleged victim in the case.

WYFF News 4 was the only news organization there when Bartee was led into jail.

Solicitor Chrissy Adams said evidence was captured on audio surveillance, and Bartee gave a person money to buy items needed for the kidnapping.

Bartee, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent, was one of four candidates for Oconee County sheriff. He is accused of trying to arrange to have retired circuit Judge James C. Williams Jr. kidnapped.

Bartee is accused of trying to arrange the kidnapping after Williams filed an action asking for a judgment on whether Bartee was qualified to run for sheriff. The action also asked for an injunction against creating ballots with Bartee listed as a candidate.

Williams' filing claims that Bartee is ineligible to run for sheriff because he was never a certified law enforcement officer under state law.

The decision on Bartee's candidacy was to be made by Judge Cordell Maddox.

Bartee was to compete in the June 12 Republican primary, along with current Oconee County Chief Deputy Terry Wilson and former sheriff's captains Donnie Fricks and Mike Crenshaw.

Republican Party Chairman Eddie Adams ruled that Bartee was eligible to participate in the primary because under state law, former federal law enforcement officers are given "a South Carolina certificate as a law enforcement officer" if they present the appropriate credentials.

But Williams' lawyer said that, according to state code, a person must have "one year's experience as a certified law enforcement officer in South Carolina" to serve as sheriff.

Bartee was a U.S. Secret Service agent for 15 years. Fricks and Crenshaw both have 25 years' experience in law enforcement and Wilson has 19 years' experience.

By all accounts, the arrest was a surprise, even to Bartee's attorney, Jake Moore.

"I got to talk to James for about two minutes, and the SLED agents would not even let me talk to him in private. The agent basically made me keep the door open, and then he basically insisted on standing within about three feet of us while we attempted to talk," said Moore. "I got to talk to my client with a SLED agent in my face basically, so the limited conversation I had with James, he does contend, and I believe him, that he is not guilty of any wrongdoing."

Moore said his client's name will remain on the ballot.

Maddox cleared the courtroom after the arrest, telling everyone there, "I can't say any more other than Mr. Bartee is no longer in the building. I need y'all to leave in an orderly fashion. I know you might be upset, but that's all I can say. So, this hearing is suspended indefinitely."